Kh Salman visits polio certification counters

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that due to effective and vigorous anti-polio campaigns, no polio case has been reported in Punjab. He said that regular immunization campaigns have developed immunity in children and in spite of positive environmental sample in Lahore, no child has been affected by polio virus.

He said this while talking to media after administering polio vaccine drops in the Garhi Shahu area on the 3rd day of special anti-polio campaign in Lahore. DG Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, EDO Health Lahore Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, DOH Lahore Dr. Saeed Akhtar and other concerned officers were also present on this occasion.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that according to the recommendations of WHO the range of anti-polio campaign has been extended from 73 union councils to total 165 UCs of Lahore and 3800 mobile health teams are busy to administer polio drops to 15 lakh 70 thousand children of up to five years of age. Responding to a question, Kh. Salman Rafique said that polio reservoirs were existing in KPK and FATA.

He said that some children out of thousands of families travelling to Punjab carry polio virus as a result sewerage water samples have been positive. He disclosed that the type of polio virus found in Lahore is similar to that virus which is present in FATA. He reiterated that anti-polio campaign would be continued in Lahore till environmental sample of Lahore is negative.

Meanwhile, Kh. Salman Rafique also visited Jinnah Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to check the polio certification counters established for polio vaccination of international travelers.